The Gael Londain Team

Michael Reilly

Michael is a native of Belmullet, Co. Mayo. Michael was educated in St Brendan’s Vocational College, Belmullet where he played Gaelic football for his school team at right corner back. Michael was part of the team that won the U16 vocational school county championship. He also played for his GAA club, Belmullet.

Michael left St Brendan’s Secondary school to further his education by undertaking a plumbing / pipefitting apprenticeship. Upon completion, he moved to Dublin to take up post with a Mechanical company. During this time, Michael met his wife Siobhan. An opportunity arose that allowed him to move back to County Mayo with his company. Michael settled in Castlebar for ten years. He kept his passion alive for Gaelic football by becoming a member of Islandeady GAA football club. It was during this time his two children were born, Cathal followed in his dad’s footsteps and became a member of Islandeady GAA club at the age of 5 Years.
In 2012, an opportunity arose that allowed Michael to move to London where to took up a post of Construction manager with a leading Irish Engineering company. Eighteen months later, his family joined him and In 2017 he set up is own construction consultancy company.
Both his children play for Gael London and this has made a path for Michael to become the head coach with for the U12 age group. He is also part of the coaching team for the London Irish ARFC where Cathal plays with the U11’s.

As the newly appointed Chairman, Michael together with the other committee members will ensure the club continues to grow and build upon its success.

Go raibh mile maith agaibh, a Chairde

Alan Duggan

Siobhan Reilly

Siobhan was born in the parish of Kiltane, Erris, Co. Mayo. Siobhan was educated in Our Lady’s secondary school, Convent of Mercy Belmullet. Here Siobhan was a very keen basketball player and was part of the team that won the county title in her senior year.
She and her family were immersed in her GAA club, Kiltane. Gaelic football was always the forefront of her family. Her father played to Senior level with the club and her younger brother to minor level. Every weekend she was ferried to a GAA pitch to watch her club and county break ball.

Siobhan left Our Lady’s secondary school to further her education. She attended the Galway-Mayo institute of Technology for a further four years studying business specialising in Hotel and Catering Management. On completion, Siobhan undertook an accountancy role with the well-known Jury- Doyle Hotel group, based in Ballsbridge, Dublin. It was while working in Dublin, that Siobhan met her husband Michael. Three years later, Siobhan moved back to Co. Mayo. Siobhan and Michael settled in Castlebar for ten years and it was during this time that she had her two children, Cathal and Niamh. Niamh is a very keen Irish dancer and Cathal plays for London Irish ARFC. They also both play for Gael Londain

Four Years ago, Siobhan moved to London with Michael and her children where she currently works as a Clinical Office Manager within the division of Theatres, Anaesthetics, Surgery and Critical Care in St Peters Hospital, Chertsey.

Siobhan looks forward to serving the members of Gael Londain and to continue to grow the club with her fellow committee members.

Go Raibh Mile maith agaibh, a chaire.

Romy Kenyon

Romy is currently Sustainability Manager for 3M Europe, guiding the company and its customers to use more sustainable products and practices. When she is not being passionate about the environment and saving the planet, she is encouraging anyone that will listen to get into all things Irish, including GAA- football and hurling, Irish dancing, music, speaking Gaelic as well as Munster and Irish rugby.
Romy grew up beside the Shannon in Limerick City, and played camogie for her school for many years, before a family move to Dublin ended that glorious career! With hockey, never being quite the same, she moved to the UK after the Leaving Cert, to study Chemistry and French in Manchester. After graduating she moved to Aberdeen and enjoyed life in a paper mill as a coating chemist becoming very immersed in all aspects of Scottish culture. After 5 years she moved to London, gained a Masters in Strategic Marketing, joined 3M, became a marketer, married Jerry and then made life really hectic by having 4 children in 6 years.

With children, came a wish to bring a bit of Irish culture and childhood to their lives- starting with knowing all the words ‘as gaelige’ to Amhrán na bhFiann and liking Taytos. Then about two years ago, the two oldest children were asked to be part of an Irish dancing display at Hazelwood. That night was the opening night of Gael Londáin, and from that night on, all the family were hooked. Currently, Ciarán is in u6, Daniel in u8, Caitie is on the girls’ team and Michael in u12 with Romy running like a lunatic between the 4 pitches!
Having got the GAA bug again, Romy then had to get back into camogie and 3 of the children now play for Fr Murphy’s hurling team in Greenford as well as Gaelic football for Gael Londáin. Romy also helps with coaching with both games and has completed the foundation in coaching course with GAA London.

Last year, Romy joined the Gael Londáin committee as the cultural and Irish language ambassador and has this year taken over as PRO.
Romy says, “Gaelic Football is a fantastic game and my kids genuinely look forward to playing each week and going to the Blitz. I am particularly proud of how the girls team has come on this year. For sure, Gael Londáin are now a serious force in London GAA”

Gael Londáin Abú

Liam Kearney

Liam is Finance & HR Director of a private Finance House based in Berkshire. His passions are Gaelic football, Rugby, horses and is passionate about fairness and access for all especially providing less privileged and less able children with a platform to grow and develop. Liam sits on various Boards on a non-executive capacity and is the Finance Trustee of a large community-based children’s charity located in Hampton Court Palace. The Horse Rangers provide a unique opportunity for less able bodied children to prosper, heal and learn horsemanship skills. Liam is a passionate believer in giving young people every chance to develop new skills and to learn how to work in a collegiate fashion.

Liam was born in Killarney Co Kerry and spent his youth messing about on horses or playing Gaelic football and indeed spent many a summer attempting to play gaelic football on horseback on Inch Strand. A graduate of St Brendan’s (The Seminary Killarney) a school which has been producing Priests and Kerry footballers since 1860, most notably some Kerry greats as Mick o Dwyer, Paudi O Se and the Spillane Brothers.

After the Sem Liam attended UCC and from there moved to Dublin and qualified as an accountant in 1990. Liam is married to a Dublin lady Nuala and has 2 boys Oisin (15) and Fionn (10). It is fair to say that some All Ireland Gaelic Football Final Days in the Kearney Household are challenging given the passion for the sport.

Liam commented “The opportunity to inaugurate a GAA club in a facility as superb as Hazelwood is a huge honour for us all. We thank the Owners and Board of Hazelwood for affording us this opportunity and I am lucky to be part of such a forward thinking and indeed hard working Executive Committee. The Club will allow each youngster a chance to enhance their personal development with the challenge of learning a new ball game whilst making new friends in beautiful familiar surroundings. London GAA is still a relevant and vibrant organisation especially given the year that is in it and we hope to become very much part of the local community. It is a great honour to sit with my fellow Executive members and make this happen.”

Richard Bartley

Born and raised in Fermoy, Co Cork. Played both Football and Hurling for Fermoy GAA, also competed for Fermoy Cycling Club and Rugby Club. After completing my Electrical Apprenticeship I worked in the Middle East. I visited London in 1998 and have not left since. Married Linda (from Liscarroll, Mallow, Co. Cork) in 2002 and we have Rian (12 and Emily 9). I in my spare time I train and compete in Triathlons through out the year.

Both Rian and I were members of London Irish Rugby Club until Rian wanted to concentrate on his Football with Staines Lamas FC. Currently I am a Coach of the Staines Lamas U13 Football team.

In March 2016 Kiernan Walsh asked if I would be interested in coaching GAA Football. I jumped at the chance. In July 2016 I was appointed Gael Londain Head Coach. In Jan 2017 I attended the GAA foundation and Level 1 Football course ( I highly recommend these courses to any person interested in Coaching).

Dan Moriarty

Dan is an Officer with the RAF. His passions are Hurling, Rugby, distance running and obviously Gaelic Football. Dan is a proud ‘plastic paddy’ who’s grandfather hailed from Smerwick Harbour, Dingle, Co Kerry. After finishing college in Essex, he went on to complete a Music Technology degree at the University of Hertfordshire, where he first tried his hand at hurling, the sport that his grandfather played, this short-lived venture into playing the sport cemented his love for it and he continues to follow Kerry and County Londain to this day.

Dan met Paula aged 17 and they have 2 kids named Caitlin and Declan. With these 2 they were keen to give them an upbringing in keeping with their heritage and family name, visiting Gael Londain on a Saturday in early 2017 for a hurling event, they met Michael Reilly who convinced them to come back and let the kids try out Gaelic Football on a Friday night. They were instantly hooked, so much so that when the opportunity arose for them to move to a closer club, they refused siting how much they loved being part of the club (The Gael Londain effect).

Through his work he has been involved in youth groups and was once an Essex County Council youth worker. So, when the U7’s coach needed a helping hand one Friday night he volunteered immediately. Now as a regular match goer at McGovern Park, a member of the coaching staff on the U7’s and with 2 children playing within the club he has started playing hurling with another club in Nottingham during the week.

He has a passion for all things Irish and fervently believes that children in the UK of all ages and ability should the opportunity to play Gaelic sports.

Dan says: ‘I am proud that my family are a part of this great club and that I have the opportunity to help build on its success’.

Martin Gammon

I am not Irish. Just thought we should get that out the way. I had a great-grandfather who hailed from Wales, but that’s about as far west as I can trace my family.

I have lived in Shepperton for 20 years with my wife and two children. My son plays at London Irish Youth and uses Gael Londain as a way to keep fit during the Summer months without rugby and school. I wanted to do more than just stand on the sidelines and enjoy the clubhouse, so I became involved in helping to run the club.

Professionally, I am a people photographer and in the past have been involved in printing, marketing, database building and graphic design. I know, that’s a bit of an odd mix.